My name is Kari Ose Evensen . I live in Byglandsford, Norway and I manage the Okini program - a job I am happy to have. It is wonderful each time a family receives what they need. About 3 weeks ago I received a special request from one of the people who work as an Area Service Coordinator for One Spirit.  Her request was as follows:

“I have a major Okini request. I know it is one in a million chance this will get fulfilled, but I told this woman that I would try again.

Sandra is a disabled 49 year old adult.  She is paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair due to a car accident about 13 years ago.  She lives in a very small apartment which I have visited - it is not really handicapped accessible.  The rooms are so small that getting around in the wheelchair is difficult.

Sandra would like a "new" box spring & mattress.  She requests queen sized because she is a large woman and must turn back to front every 2 hours to avoid health problems.  The mattress she now uses was obtained in 1999 - a motel went out of business & sent a truckload of used furniture as a donation to the rez.  She is beginning to develop sores from the poor mattress and cannot afford a replacement.”

This request hit me deep in my heart. One in a million chance to get this woman a mattress?? Is it really that bad?? I was thinking of people here in my surroundings in Norway. Many could just go straight out and buy a mattress without thinking.

I thought about it for a while..got a little “mad”,  posted the request on my facebook page and asked if there was anyone out there who wanted to help me raise money for a mattress for her.

I did receive an amount here and there.   Then a mother and her 9 year old son came for a visit on Sunday. The boy wanted to give me some money ( about $33) he had earned by helping his grandfather. We looked on the Okini list to find a family that he could use his money to help.   Suddenly he told his mom he needed a go home to get something.   When they came back, he handed me an envelope with all his savings. He said that he didn’t need it and asked me to help the Indians with it instead. Altogether this little boy gave me $258.

It’s hard to describe what I felt that moment. I really just wanted to cry…and I thought: “Oh, sure there is hope for the future with children like Yngvar!!!”  I just posted on facebook that I had received that big amount from someone I never expected it from, and that I would like to see Sandra’s face when she hears about this.

Now I am asking you too. Is there anyone out there who could help raise money for Sandra’s mattress? Let us prove it was wrong this “one in a million chance”. Every dollar counts, 5 or 10, whatever you could come up with. And if we should get more than what the mattress cost,  we have other “Sandras” with needs equally desperate.   Sandra’s mattress and box springs – the kind that prevents bed sores, will cost $699.00

Kari

Yngvar shoveling for grandpa